The Lancashire-based ingredients firm’s two new business units have been designed to help the company more closely work with food manufacturers, regional retailers, butchers and farm shop owners.
Their development comes in response to the rapid expansion of the foodie market, with butchers and meat retailers across the UK diversifying what they offer.
The first of the two units, the Butcher’s Collective sub-group, will provide a free members portal to help further the art of butchery and encourage collaboration within the community.
Knowledge and support
Butchers and business owners will be offered exclusive access to trade support, knowledge sharing of food and flavour trends, educational webinars from exports, industry insights and marketing tools.
The second unit – the Taste Creation platform – will be an addition to the company’s online shop and is targeted at food manufacturers, food development businesses and regional retailers. It will cover key aspects of the company’s fully customised food product development services, as well as partnership working opportunities.
Innovative Food Ingredients commercial director Chantelle Brennand said: “The new units are in response to changing purchasing behaviours, diversification and a renewed drive for greater value and taste as we put customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do.
For butchers in need
“Food manufacturers, butchers and meat retailers now want to design and market dishes with different continental flavours. When they are in need of new flavours to extend their ranges, we have the consumer insights, creativity and technical knowledge to make it happen.”
Innovative Food Ingredients has experienced significant growth over the last 18 months, with the addition of four more employees, a new senior leadership team in place and a rebrand as part of the launch of The Butchers’ Collective and Taste Creation.
The firm has also custom built and designed a modern demonstration kitchen at its headquarters in Poulton-le-Fylde to help showcase its food ingredients solutions and recipes. It will enable the team to conduct its webinars and host food preparation and demo sessions.
Meanwhile, last year saw chilled meals producer Oscar Mayar unveiled an experimental customer and supplier hub at its Wrexham site as it tapped into AI and consumer insights to help improve the image of chilled meats.
